Chaos and Courage....Joplin style
As most people have surely heard by now, Joplin, Missouri was hit by a killer F5 tornado on Sunday, May 22nd. The tornado tore through the heart of our city at around 5:30 p.m., a time when many people were shopping and eating at businesses in the path of the storm. The storm started it's destruction on the west side of town, ripping through one of our large hospitals before tearing through residential neighborhoods and destroying Joplin's Stained Glass Theatre in the process. It continued east toward Main Street, cutting a 3/4 mile wide path across Joplin where it anhilated most of 15th - 26th streets and everything in between. The destruction along our main business route, Rangeline Road, was perhaps the most visually devastating. Unrecognizable are the Home Depot, Walgreens, Pizza by Stoutt, Aldi's, Enterprise Rent-a-Car and many other businesses. Parts of Walmart are still standing, as are parts of Cherry Berry, Chick-fil-a, Joann's Fabric, Freddy's, Goodwill, Jim Bob's and several others. Most of that section of the city is unrecognizable since business landmarks and street signs have all been wiped off the map, scrubbed from the face of the earth. Beautiful old trees that had weathered many decades of growth now litter the tops of cars and homes. Cars were tossed hither and yon as if a giant naughty toddler were tossing his toys in the air mid-tantrum.
Joplinites have responded triumphantly with the help of countless volunteers from across the U.S. and workers from the Red Cross, FEMA, National Guard, Convoy of Hope, Samaritan's Purse and other agencies. Thousands of donations have poured in from all over. People across the four-states area have held donation drives and blood drives. Missouri Southern State University has become a chaotic hub of activity as it houses the central location for Red Cross, FEMA and the National Guard. The guardsmen have erected mobile barracks and FEMA has brought in large mobile units. These agencies have commandeered our Health Sciences building, Leggett-Platt Gymnasium and Billingsly Student Center along with most of the parking lots and green spaces on campus. The newly homeless of Joplin have found a temporary home in Leggett-Platt along with plenty of food, new clothing and other services.
In tragic situations like this, you see the best and worst in humanity. We've definitely seen the worst come out in people as we hear reports of looters ravaging the remains of businesses. Some have stolen chainsaws from out-of-town volunteers and one was reported looting equipment from a firetruck. On the whole, however, the majority of stories coming from this tragedy have been stories of courage, survival, generosity, service and Christ-like love.
The TV cameras will soon go away from Joplin and the next big thing will move people's attention and focus away from our devastation. We will be forgotten by most people and be left to pick up the pieces on our own. The generous spirit and servanthood of locals will continue as we clean up the mess and rebuild the city. Please keep Joplin in your prayers even after the TV cameras leave town. It's going to be a long while before we're back to normal.
Joplinites have responded triumphantly with the help of countless volunteers from across the U.S. and workers from the Red Cross, FEMA, National Guard, Convoy of Hope, Samaritan's Purse and other agencies. Thousands of donations have poured in from all over. People across the four-states area have held donation drives and blood drives. Missouri Southern State University has become a chaotic hub of activity as it houses the central location for Red Cross, FEMA and the National Guard. The guardsmen have erected mobile barracks and FEMA has brought in large mobile units. These agencies have commandeered our Health Sciences building, Leggett-Platt Gymnasium and Billingsly Student Center along with most of the parking lots and green spaces on campus. The newly homeless of Joplin have found a temporary home in Leggett-Platt along with plenty of food, new clothing and other services.
In tragic situations like this, you see the best and worst in humanity. We've definitely seen the worst come out in people as we hear reports of looters ravaging the remains of businesses. Some have stolen chainsaws from out-of-town volunteers and one was reported looting equipment from a firetruck. On the whole, however, the majority of stories coming from this tragedy have been stories of courage, survival, generosity, service and Christ-like love.
The TV cameras will soon go away from Joplin and the next big thing will move people's attention and focus away from our devastation. We will be forgotten by most people and be left to pick up the pieces on our own. The generous spirit and servanthood of locals will continue as we clean up the mess and rebuild the city. Please keep Joplin in your prayers even after the TV cameras leave town. It's going to be a long while before we're back to normal.
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